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| Girolamo da Treviso Three Male Saints and a Female Saint (study for altarpiece) ca. 1531 drawing British Museum |
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| Pomponio Amalteo Martyrdom of St Stephen (study for altarpiece) ca. 1535-40 drawing Royal Collection, Great Britain |
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| Pordenone The Annunciation (study for altarpiece) ca. 1537 drawing Royal Collection, Great Britain |
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| Anonymous Italian Artist Virgin and Child with Angel Musicians and St Apollonia (study for altarpiece) 16th century drawing Royal Collection, Great Britain |
from The Blessed Virgin compared to the Air we Breathe
She, wild web, wondrous robe,
Mantles the guilty globe,
Since God has let dispense
Her prayers his providence:
Nay, more than almoner,
The sweet alms' self is her
And men are meant to share
Her life as life does air.
– Gerard Manley Hopkins (Poems, 1876-89, first published in 1918)
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| Giorgio Vasari Virgin and Child with St Anthony Abbot and St Catherine of Alexandria (study for altarpiece) before 1574 drawing Royal Collection, Great Britain |
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| Santi di Tito Figure-study (study for altarpiece) ca. 1592 drawing British Museum |
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| Bartolomeo Passarotti Funeral of the Virgin (study for altarpiece) before 1592 drawing Royal Collection, Great Britain |
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| Pietro Faccini Holy Family enthroned and adored by Saints (study for altarpiece) before 1602 drawing Royal Collection, Great Britain |
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| Guglielmo Caccia Assumption of the Virgin (study for altarpiece) before 1625 drawing Art Institute of Chicago |
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| attributed to Giambattista Crespi, Il Cerano Christ on the Cross with the Magdalen, the Virgin & St John the Evangelist (study for altarpiece) before 1632 drawing Royal Collection, Great Britain |
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| Alessandro Maganza Adoration of the Magi (study for altarpiece) before 1640 drawing Royal Collection, Great Britain |
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| Gianlorenzo Bernini Allegory on the Blood of Christ (study for altarpiece) 1670 drawing Teylers Museum, Haarlem |
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| Guillaume Courtois, Il Borgognone Virgin and Child enthroned and adored by Four Saints (study for altarpiece) before 1679 drawing British Museum |
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| Ciro Ferri Monastic Saint receiving a Pair of Manacles from the Virgin (study for altarpiece) before 1689 drawing Royal Collection, Great Britain |